Consider the importance of setting and weather in 'Wuthering Heights'.

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

Consider the importance of setting and weather in 'Wuthering Heights' In 'Wuthering Heights' the setting is very important. In the novel the setting and weather mirror the mood of some of the characters, their actions and the atmosphere. The three main settings in the novel are the moors, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. The moors are connected with wildness and freedom because no one owns them and people are free to roam them when they please. Heathcliff and Catherine used the moors when they were children as a place to roam free and a place where they could do what they wanted. The moors are also how Catherine describes her relationship between Heathcliff and her relationship with Edgar Linton. She loves them both, but in different ways. Catherine says, "My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods" and "My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath." She describes them as if they were different parts of the moors. ...read more.

Middle

So it makes the moors a part of his character and without the moors his character would be confused and they make his character sound more believable. Nelly also uses imagery to contrast Edgar and Heathcliff. Heathcliff is described as "bleak, hilly coal country". Edgar is described as "a beautiful fertile valley". These two descriptions can both be used to describe the moors. Wuthering Heights is not homely. The house's name describes its character. Wuthering might gives imagery of a rose withering and dying, like the house was once beautiful and full of life but as the years went on it's warmth and condition had died and worn away by the weather. The weather around the building is stormy through most of the novel and the description of the outside of the house, "Grotesque carving lavished over the front", adds to the atmosphere to make it gloomy and cold. This also makes it the house and its surroundings sound un-welcoming. ...read more.

Conclusion

Heathcliff tries to hide them. Thrushcross Grange is the opposite of Wuthering Heights. Instead of stormy weather it is normally calm and it represents the other end of the social scale. The house is refined and welcoming. This is shown in the novel when Cathy stays at Thrushcross Grange whilst her ankle is getting better. She started her visit as a wild and free child, but came out better behaved and refined. The house was described as "a splendid place". Rich colours seem to be apart of the house. "Crimson-covered chairs", "ceiling bordered by gold". The weather symbolises the feelings and actions of the characters. The storms represent a signal for danger and conflict. For example when Heathcliff disappears a tree is struck by lightning. The tree may symbolise Heathcliff and the lightning his feelings. His feelings would hurt him, like the lightning would damage the tree. When Catherine is buried there is a storm. This shows Heathcliff's grief. Also another storm shows Heathcliff's feelings when Cathy decides to marry Edgar. Heathcliff was angry at Cathy's decision and so a storm shows how he is feeling. It is a good and clear way to express their feelings. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Emily Bronte section.

Related GCSE Emily Bronte essays

It creates wild and uncultured people who are of great contrast to those living in the more secluded and cultured manor house; Thrushcross Grange. The unpredictable characters from Wuthering Heights are exciting and interesting to read about and without them "Wuthering Heights" would not be such a success.

Hindley died a few months after Cathy. Cathy's daughter, also named Catherine, lived at the grange, and was unaware of Wuthering heights. Isabella died when Linton was about 12, and Edgar went to fetch him from London, to be a playmate to Catherine. The same day, Heathcliff sent Joseph, a servant to fetch Linton from the grange and when Catherine woke, her cousin was gone.

Natural setting also acts as a marker of time. Again this is important to the success of the frequent jumps and changes in time. A natural change in season can be marked through scrupulous description of the setting throughout the novel.

Now we move finally onto the residents of the two houses. They are wealthy, aggressive, impolite and in some ways cruel but there are still some differences. First Wuthering Heights, and the inhabitants are mostly caring, loyal and energetic especially Cathy and young Heathcliff.